Magic's Wiley Guards Against Losing His Job

April 8, 1990|By Barry Cooper of The Sentinel Staff

Reserve point guard Morlon Wiley, frustrated by his inactivity, acknowledges he could be the odd man out when the Orlando Magic decide whom to release in the offseason. The Magic will play the Houston Rockets this afternoon at Orlando Arena, and Wiley will take his customary spot on the bench, with no assurances of receiving any playing time.

That isn't the scenario he had envisioned for himself. Wiley, a second-year pro who signed with the Magic last summer as a restricted free agent, had hoped for a fresh start, a chance to compete for a starting job or at least battle for key reserve duty.

It hasn't happened. Although he once started back-to-back games, Wiley has not received much meaningful playing time in Coach Matt Guokas' topsy-turvy rotation system. He has played in only 36 of 74 games. That is why Wiley is thinking about having to pack his bags.

He said he has taken measures to emotionally prepare himself, despite the financial security of having one year remaining on his contract at around $250,000. The Magic must pay Wiley even if they release him. Of course, the Magic would rather trade him, perhaps for a future draft pick, rather than release him.

''I don't know what is going to happen,'' Wiley said. ''Nobody has said anything to me. But ever since I came into the league I have taken care of my money. I don't owe anybody. All my bills are paid. And they have got to pay me for next year. They know my address.''

Magic officials aren't saying what steps they will take to trim the roster. But something almost surely will be done, and at least one cut likely will come from the guards.

The Magic have six guards - two more than they need. Presently, there are 13 players under contract, including injured center Dave Corzine, who almost certainly will be signed to a new deal this summer. Also this summer, the Magic will add a first-round draft pick, and that will swell the roster to 14. That would be two players above the league limit if all the current players are retained.

Clearly, one or two cuts must be made, and some of the players, including Wiley, have been trying to predict what may happen.

''I have stopped trying to guess what they are going to do,'' Wiley said. ''I have been trying to remain patient and keep my mouth quiet. But I am sure they are going to do something. They have got to do something.

''My thinking was that if they were going to keep me they would give me some playing time, and if they were not going to keep me, they would play me so I could generate some market value and they would be able to trade me.

''Because I am not playing very much I don't know what to think.''

Wiley isn't the only player the Magic may be thinking of moving off the team. Even veteran guard Otis Smith, one of the team's most consistent players, said he wonders if the team will try to trade him.

Guard Scott Skiles, who has played well since recently moving into the starting lineup, has said that if the Magic wanted him back they would have offered him a new contract by now. Skiles is scheduled to become a restricted free agent in July. Reserve center Mark Acres, whose playing time lately has dwindled to almost nothing, also will be a restricted free agent.

General Manager Pat Williams declines to offer any specific insight as to what the Magic will do, but he agreed there are too many guards.